ARCATA — The exhibition games are over, now it’s time for the games that count to begin, and tonight at 7 p.m., the Humboldt State Women’s basketball team tips off its regular season with an old foe — Chico State.

The Lady Jacks will be in Chico to take part in the Enloe Coslet Classic, hosted by the Wildcats, and the two teams have a lot of history.

On Saturday night, HSU will face off against Sonoma State at 5 p.m. in the second round.

CSUC and SSU are members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, a name Lumberjack fans may as well get used to now, because this is Humboldt’s final season in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Next season HSU will be a member of the CCAA and Lady Jacks head coach Joddie Gleason doesn’t mind getting in some work against future conference foes.

”It’s nice to play these CCAA teams since we are going to be in the conference next year,” she said. “We’re opening with one of the top teams in the Region and in the nation in Chico State.”

The Wildcats are ranked No. 16 in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II poll, giving the Lady Jacks a tough test for a season-opener.

Last season the teams played a home-and-away series, and the Wildcats walked away with an 83-60 win in Chico and a 95-75 win in Arcata. Chico leads the all-time series 47-14

”They are athletic at every position and they like to run the court and just outscore you,” Gleason said. “The challenge for us will be to get them to play in the half court. Our main focus is to make them take tough shots and for us to get back in transition.”

The Lady Jacks enter the 2006-06 season with a ton of anticipation trailing in their wake.

After a four-win campaign in 03-04, Gleason’s first squad made quite a turnaround with a 12-15 overall record and a 9-9 mark in the GNAC last season.

With a solid corps of upperclassmen back, along with some exciting new players, the Jacks should be able to run, shoot and defend, and that’s Gleason’s top goal.

HSU opened the preseason with a convincing 89-50 win over Holy Names on Nov. 4, as the 2004-05 GNAC Newcomer of the Year, Jenna Washington, dropped 20 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

The Jacks got a good look at their depth against Holy Names, and the newcomers, led by junior transfer point guard Katie Wilder, looked good. Wilder has gotten the starting nod from Gleason, but look for another junior transfer, Monique Coquilla, to see plenty of time on the court to display her ball-handling skills and lightning-quick feet.

”I have been happy with our transition offense. I felt that we pushed the ball well against Holy Names,” Gleason said. “We need to work on our transition defense and rebounding will be a key for us all year.”